Modular Rainwater Collection Device

ABSTRACT

A modular rainwater collection device for collecting rainwater includes a tank that is substantially box-shaped. The tank has a top, a bottom, a tongue end, a groove end and opposing sides. A female coupler is centrally positioned in the groove end and a male coupler, complimentary to the female coupler, is centrally positioned in the tongue end. A top knockout is positioned in the top proximate to the groove end, and a bottom knockout is positioned in the bottom proximate to the groove end. A screen is reversibly couplable to the top knockout. The tank comprises a plurality of tanks. The plurality of tanks is mutually horizontally couplable and mutually vertically couplable, such that the plurality of tanks forms a wall of tanks. Each of the plurality of tanks is fluidically interconnected.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to water collection devices and more particularly pertains to a new water collection device for collecting rainwater.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tank that is substantially box-shaped. The tank has a top, a bottom, a tongue end, a groove end and opposing sides. A female coupler is centrally positioned in the groove end and a male coupler, complimentary to the female coupler, is centrally positioned in the tongue end. A top knockout is positioned in the top proximate to the groove end, and a bottom knockout is positioned in the bottom proximate to the groove end. A screen is reversibly couplable to the top knockout. The tank comprises a plurality of tanks. The plurality of tanks is mutually horizontally couplable and mutually vertically couplable, such that the plurality of tanks forms a wall of tanks. Each of the plurality of tanks is fluidically interconnected.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a modular rainwater collection device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new water collection device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the modular rainwater collection device 10 generally comprises a tank that is substantially box-shaped. The tank has a top, a bottom, a tongue end, a groove end and opposing sides. The opposing sides are dimensionally wider than the tongue end and the groove end, such that the tank is elongated. The opposing sides are patterned, such that the tank appears fence-like. Preferably, the opposing sides have a layered brick pattern.

A female coupler is centrally positioned in the groove end. The female coupler comprises a diaphragm that is sealed. Preferably, the female coupler is centrally positioned in an inset that is centrally positioned in the groove end. The inset is square and has a secondary inset, which also is square. A male coupler is centrally positioned in the tongue end. The male coupler is complimentary to the female coupler and is positionable through the diaphragm. Preferably, the male coupler is positioned in a protrusion coupled to the tongue end. The protrusion is complimentary to the inset.

A top knockout is positioned in the top proximate to the groove end and a bottom knockout is positioned it the bottom proximate to the groove end. The top knockout and the bottom knockout comprise partial penetrations, such that force can be applied to open the top knockout and the bottom knockout. Preferably, the top knockout and the bottom knockout are circular. The top knockout and the bottom knockout are vertically aligned.

The device 10 includes a screen that is reversibly couplable to the top knockout. The device 10 also may include a hose connector that is complimentary to the male coupler. The hose connector is couplable to the male coupler to configure the tank for coupling to a hose.

The tank comprises a plurality of tanks. The plurality of tanks is mutually horizontally couplable and mutually vertically couplable, such that the plurality of tanks forms a wall of tanks. Each of the plurality of tanks is fluidically interconnected. The plurality of tanks is configurable with the tongue end of a first tank positioned in and frictionally coupled to the groove end of a respective one of a plurality of medial tanks. The groove end of a last tank is positioned around and frictionally coupled to the tongue end of the respective one of the plurality of medial tanks. The male coupler of the first tank is coupled to a respective female coupler of the respective one of the plurality of medial tanks. The male coupler of the respective one of the medial tanks is coupled to the female coupler of the last tank, such that the first tank, the medial tanks and the last tank are fluidically connected.

The first tank, the plurality of medial tanks and the last tank comprises a top row. The top row is positioned over a plurality of middle rows. The plurality of middle rows is positioned over a bottom row. The bottom knockouts of the top row are open. The top knockouts and the bottom knockouts of the plurality of middle rows are open. The top knockouts of the bottom row are open, such that the top row, the middle rows and the bottom row of tanks are fluidically connected. The top knockout of the first tank is open and the screen is coupled to the knockout of the first tank.

The present invention also anticipates a plurality of fasters coupled to and suitably positioned on each of the tanks, such that the plurality of tanks is configured for both mutual coupling and coupling to a footing or other support structure positioned beneath the plurality of tanks. The invention also anticipates a plurality of caps. The caps are complimentary to the male coupler, such that each cap is couplable to a respective male coupler not engaged with a respective female coupler to prevent water from escaping the tanks.

In use, the plurality of tanks is configurable into the wall of tanks with each tank fluidically interconnected. The screen is positionable in the top knockout, such that the tank is configured to accept water from a downspout. The water collected is accessible through the male coupler.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A modular rainwater collection device comprising: a tank, said tank being substantially box-shaped, said tank having a top, a bottom, a tongue end, a groove end and opposing sides; a female coupler, said female coupler being centrally positioned in said groove end; a male coupler, said male coupler being centrally positioned in said tongue end, said male coupler being complimentary to said female coupler; a top knockout, said top knockout being positioned in said top proximate to said groove end; a bottom knockout, said bottom knockout being positioned in said bottom proximate to said groove end; a screen, said screen being reversibly couplable to said top knockout; said tank comprising a plurality of tanks, said plurality of tanks being mutually horizontally couplable and mutually vertically couplable, such that said plurality of tanks forms a wall of tanks and wherein each of said plurality of tanks is fluidically interconnected.
 2. The device of claim 1, further including said opposing sides being dimensionally wider than said tongue end and said groove end, such that said tank is elongated.
 3. The device of claim 1, further including said opposing sides being patterned, such that said tank appears fence-like.
 4. The device of claim 3, further including said opposing sides having a layered brick pattern.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising: said female coupler comprising a diaphragm; said diaphragm being sealed; and said male coupler being positionable through said diaphragm.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising: said female coupler being centrally positioned in an inset; said inset being centrally positioned in said groove end; said male coupler being positioned in a protrusion coupled to said tongue end; and said protrusion being complimentary to said inset.
 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising: said inset being square; said inset having a secondary inset; and said secondary inset being square.
 8. The device of claim 1, further including said top knockout and said bottom knockout comprising partial penetrations, wherein force can be applied to open said top knockout and said bottom knockout.
 9. The device of claim 1, further including said top knockout and said bottom knockout being circular.
 10. The device of claim 1, further including said top knockout and said bottom knockout being vertically aligned.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising: said plurality of tanks being configurable with said tongue end of a first tank positioned in and frictionally coupled to said groove end of a respective one of a plurality of medial tanks, and said groove end of a last tank positioned around and frictionally coupled to said tongue end of said respective one of said plurality of medial tanks.
 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising: said male coupler of said first tank being coupled to a respective said female coupler of said respective one of said plurality of medial tanks; said male coupler of said respective one of said medial tanks being coupled to said female coupler of said last tank; and wherein said first tank, said respective one of said medial tanks and said last tank are fluidically connected.
 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising: said first tank, said plurality of medial tanks and said last tank comprising a top row; said top row being positioned over a plurality of middle rows; said plurality of middle rows being positioned over a bottom row; said bottom knockouts of said top row being open; said top knockouts and said bottom knockouts of said plurality of middle rows being open; said top knockouts of said bottom row being open; such that said top row, said middle rows and said bottom row of tanks are fluidically connected;
 14. The device of claim 11, further including said top knockout of said first tank being open, said screen being coupled to said knockout of said first tank.
 15. The device of claim 1, further including a hose connector, said hose connector being complimentary to said male coupler, wherein said hose connector is couplable to said male coupler to configure said tank for coupling to a hose.
 16. A modular rainwater collection device comprising: a tank, said tank being substantially box-shaped, said tank having a top, a bottom, a tongue end, a groove end and opposing sides, said opposing sides being dimensionally wider than said tongue end and said groove end, such that said tank is elongated, said opposing sides being patterned, such that said tank appears fence-like, said opposing sides having a layered brick pattern, a female coupler, said female coupler being centrally positioned in said groove end, said female coupler comprising a diaphragm, said diaphragm being sealed, said female coupler being centrally positioned in an inset, said inset being centrally positioned in said groove end, said inset being square, said inset having a secondary inset, said secondary inset being square; a male coupler, said male coupler being centrally positioned in said tongue end, said male coupler being complimentary to said female coupler, said male coupler being positionable through said diaphragm, said male coupler being positioned in a protrusion coupled to said tongue end, said protrusion being complimentary to said inset; a top knockout, said top knockout being positioned in said top proximate to said groove end a bottom knockout, said bottom knockout being positioned in said bottom proximate to said groove end; said top knockout and said bottom knockout comprising partial penetrations, wherein force can be applied to open said top knockout and said bottom knockout; said top knockout and said bottom knockout being circular; said top knockout and said bottom knockout being vertically aligned; a screen, said screen being reversibly couplable to said top knockout; a hose connector, said hose connector being complimentary to said male coupler, wherein said hose connector is couplable to said male coupler to configure said tank for coupling to a hose; said tank comprising a plurality of tanks, said plurality of tanks being mutually horizontally couplable and mutually vertically couplable, such that said plurality of tanks forms a wall of tanks and wherein each of said plurality of tanks is fluidically interconnected; said plurality of tanks being configurable with said tongue end of a first tank positioned in and frictionally coupled to said groove end of a respective one of a plurality of medial tanks, and said groove end of a last tank positioned around and frictionally coupled to said tongue end of said respective one of said plurality of medial tanks; said male coupler of said first tank being coupled to a respective said female coupler of said respective one of said plurality of medial tanks, said male coupler of said respective one of said medial tanks being coupled to said female coupler of said last tank, such that said first tank, said respective one of said medial tanks and said last tank are fluidically connected; said first tank, said plurality of medial tanks and said last tank comprising a top row, said top row being positioned over a plurality of middle rows, said plurality of middle row being positioned over a bottom row, said bottom knockouts of said top row being open, said top knockouts and said bottom knockouts of said plurality of middle rows being open, said top knockouts of said bottom row being open, such that said top row, said middle rows and said bottom row of tanks are fluidically connected; said top knockout of said first tank being open, said screen being coupled to said knockout of said first tank; and wherein said plurality of tanks is configurable into said wall of tanks with each said tank being fluidically interconnected, such that said screen is positionable in said top knockout, wherein said tank is configured to accept water from a downspout, such that collected water is accessible through said male coupler. 